Cmas to Karen Ness

See post about Julie's env. -- explains env to Karen:

https://snailmailingmadness.blogspot.com/2023/12/ummmday-made-julie-w.html

Did her name in a tree shape, adding on her last name at the end. (messed up my pp uncial though. Grrrr.) Also messed up the N a bit. But it also looks like it was done on purpose, to emphasize the last name!

With insert. (again, tree shape attempt -- Merry & Bright!)

 

Snowflakes to Irene (3d name)

So, before i explain this env., I have to point out yet another po "no-no" -- addressing on a curve.

I sent a Cmas themed envie to a new exchanger on Nov 17/18 (for Nov. PTEx -- see green sewn env. below), and they messaged me on Dec. 20, saying they just now received it. (not complaining, but giving me compliments and answering my letter).

I was puzzled, b/c I had sent it in plenty of time (which they confirmed with the postmark date). Then, it hit me... it had to be the address location (on a curve). Why else would it be so late?

Fast forward to Dec. PTEx, and had I known, I would have done Irene's differently.

(*In my defense) there really wasn't room to put it elsewhere, and have the env. look nice, so around the e it went!

*UPDATE:  She actually got it Dec. 26!

See vid below for demo with name.

With insert

Close up of snowflakes

 Video Demo

And Christy's....

Glad she got it (and in time for Cmas!)

Also, glad Irene's arrived in time too. hmmm...not sure what the hold up was with Christy's...???

ummm...Day Made. (Julie W)

I "attended" a Zoom meeting mid Dec. this year, in which Julie kindly did a demo of a letter for one of her online classes (which, unfortunately, I could not attend, as I had too many conflicts -- grrrr.).

During the meeting, Karen Ness showed everyone a table covering she made, from all the holiday env.'s she's received over the years.

Afterwards, she shared her address, welcoming any and all holiday mail, if anyone wanted to send to her. Julie did the same.

Being the "Snail Mail Fanatic" I am, of course I took the opportunity to send her one, as well as Julie, thanking them both for the zoom invite and demo.

I got this email from Julie today:

I love and appreciate all compliments and praise, but I gotta admit, when they come from a professional, esp. someone whose work is inspirational for me, I'm in awe.

Thank you Julie. 😊 

(and, as you can see, I finally signed up for one of her online classes! -- pre-recorded, but I'll take it!)

Here is the env. I sent her:

RW tree & name

TY with slant tip Parallel

I'll post Karen's separately.

Postage stamp cards

I've been wanting to create little cards with salvaged postage stamps for a while now, and finally did.

(Pinterest inspo!)

The challenge is removing the env. paper, esp. if the stamp is in somewhat "pristine" condition!

Note bad for my first try.  :)

 

Fam. Cards

A sampling of a few of our personal family holiday cards (Wish I had thought to take more pics).

 Next year I may add an additional design (like the one below at the bottom).

And a little ty card to someone special:

Day 25! Merry Christmas!!

I have a lot of other ideas for this prompt, but this one is something I've been wanting to do for a while. It's based off of wrapping paper -- see pic below -- (years ago, I actually created a candle like it -- with "vellum" paper and pin cushions. Wish I had a pic of that.)

a full sheet card put inside a clear env.

Left room for addressing.

Didn't send out this year, as I created it after all my env.'s were done. Plan to use the dotted Celebration stamp.

Orig. idea. Saw in a magazine.

Day 24: Santa

And another Pinspo idea!

I added a piece of white paper on top of the red. env., then colored over with black ink for the belt. Then added gold ink for the buckle.

Had such fun with this one. Hope she likes!

Day 23: Reindeer

I had SO much fun with this prompt! 

Would work for any name with an O.

Got the idea from my creation below (last year's ABC Advent)

No idea where I got the image from, but prob. Pinterest.

Here's the original (top one is edited to make it glow!)

Then, i created a few more:

Hope Lynne likes the insert too!

And how perfect are these stamps??? Love.

Day 22: Elf

This one didn't have to be based on the movie, but we have Elf (movie) wrapping paper, so I did my theme for that.

and here it is addressed:

Hope she likes the back!

Day 21: Presents (Grace)

Grace has a Dec. b-day (hope i didn't miss it!, as I'm sending this late), so how perfect to  use this prompt for that!

Again, used my scrap wrapping paper.

Finished env. Posca marker for name.

Close ups.

And here is the letter I enclosed, as I didn't have time to make an insert to match.

 

to Kate (Dec. PTEx), "Presents" attempt

This was my first attempt for the Day 21 prompt, however, I didn't like how my presents turned out (or rather, they were too small for the env. -- see env. below), so I added the tree.

Much better.

I guess I could have done the name even bigger, but oh well.

And here is my (yuck) first attempt with a diff. idea:

Was trying to salvage an env. by painting over & using my paint shaper too, but doo dark. (I sent to her anyway -- in the other env.)

And speaking of Wrapping Paper...

This, by far, is one of my faves from this Cmas!

It's inspired by ZegaCalligraphy on IG. But this time, instead of art scraps, I used scraps of wrapping paper. I made an insert for another exchanger (see below), then got the idea to do the same on an envelope! I just hope it goes through the mail ok (AND no extra postage!)

*(Maybe I could create one as a card and put it in a clear env. instead, so I don't have to worry about it getting ruined.)

Here is the roll of wrapping paper. (Bought it for my oldest, as he's a musician.)

Video to show details:

And another vid to show close-ups of env.:

And here is the insert (created for another exchanger).

Although I love how they both turned out (they were SO hard for me to give away!), I'm not one for cutting and pasting so much. I wish I found more joy in that, but it's a bit stressful for me, b/c it can be a pain, making sure I'll glue it in the correct place and that it'll adhere well. Wish I knew of an easier way (creating stickers somehow?)

Day 20: Handmade from Wrapping Paper

Although I love this one to Nele (the name!), I hate having to add the "label". 

(Probably should have put in a clear env.)

(Bought this paper for my musically talented oldest.)

This next one is from some fun holly wrapping paper. I also made a card to match and added 3d elements with puff paint.

And my fave handmade sewn paper! See pic below for "before".